Instant Gratification Generation

Wikipedia on Generation Y:
Generation Y is one of the most medicated generations in human history, with many Generation Yers prescribed antidepressants and other behavior-altering drugs like Ritalin, which has existed since the 1950s but was seldom prescribed before the early 1990s based on the relative lack of brain knowledge prior to the 1990s, the “Decade of the Brain.” It is interesting to note that Generation Y is more depressed and world aware (via the Internet) than any generation previous, which has led the Generation gaining a stereotype as the “sad generation.”

We have our iPods, cell phones, emails, Myspace, thousands of channels with optional Tivo, blogs, and a complete lack of job security or faith in any level of government. We vote in record-low numbers. We live in a world where we can keep in touch through a blog, Myspace profile, or text messaging. We use Google and Wikipedia to write papers. We are Generation (wh)Y.

Why, as in…

Why bother to vote when our politicians are all corrupt and don’t keep campaign promises anyways? Besides, why bother to even get involved when candidates don’t address real issues and there are no candidates that represent us anyways?

Why bother trying to get people riled up and concerned about something when they’ve been conditioned by the media to accept the advertising brainwashing that goes on without our consent?

Why bother trying to save the environment when rolling down the streets downtown there are military vehicles that have been modified to include seat warmers and a vanity mirror so that materialistic assholes can take up more space?

Why bother with getting a BA when the most that’ll get you these days is a stylish job as a Starbucks barista or a pat on the back?

I know that when I look at my own life I can find meaning in what I do, and I can find reasons for myself to go on. But looking at what goes on around me, either locally or globally… It can get really depressing sometimes. Sometimes that can be the hardest time to avoid lighting up or busting out a rail – when I think about how much more there is to life. Some people have it so hard, and so few people are in control of how things go for them.

There is a global community trying to create change and working together to have some effect. While some people work together brilliantly and do amazingly activist things, I’m often turned off by the amount of ignorance even within the activist community. There is so much prejudice and petty bickering in this world and it just gets so incredibly fucking exhausting…

I know there are people out there who understand where I’m coming from on this, and I know there is a generation of us out there who understand what it feels like to look at your future and see no job security, an environment that’s been raped for all it’s worth, and political leadership that is so corrupt it doesn’t even matter who you vote for. I really need to get back out there and find people to talk to about this in my travels. I feel comforted knowing that it’s not just me, and it’s not just where I’m living – it’s a massive population of us, disillusioned and lost.